ECM 575 6547Stephan Micus: nyckelharpa, voice, shakuhachi, balanzikom, genbri, guitars, zithersRecorded 2014 - 2016Multi-instrumentalist Micus has now recorded an impressive 22 albums for ECM, and remarkably, Inland Sea finds the musician adding two new instruments to his armoury, whilst continuing his musical journey across continents in search of new sounds and instruments in which to express his music. As such, it may therefore be difficult to discern how much the instruments have come to define his music, or the influence he has brought to the instruments to bring them into his sound world and musical ideology; either way he brings an approach to music that contains a degree of other worldliness that is a refreshing change from much of the music that we may readily come across day to day.

The new instruments played by Micus for the first time on a recording are the balanzikom, a rare 7 string lute; and the nyckelharpa, a bowed instrument from Sweden. Micus has made some modifications to the nickelharpa which is traditionally played with a short bow, and uses a much longer bow enabling him to play more sustained notes.

The charm in the music lies with the unorthodox sounds produced combined with Micus' compositions that are very lyrical and song like in their construction, albeit in very different dialects, and it this innate sense of melody that makes his albums accessible even if our ears do stop to question just what instruments are being played. The judicious use of overdubs can be overpowering, and produce a dense melange of sound to work through. This is most evident in 'Dancing Clouds' in which up to ten nyckelharpa are heard, either plucked, bowed or played as a percussion instrument; yet paradoxically works to wonderful effect on 'Virgen de lar Mar' utilising 3 genbri (a bass string instrument from Morocco) and 16 vocies.

In addition to the stringed instruments that are plucked and bowed, Micus also plays the shakuhachi, a Japanese bamboo flute which he has been playing for the last 43 years, and along with the voice is possibly the most melodic of the sounds, and perhaps oddly enough a more familiar sounding instrument to Western ears. It also brings out some of Micus' loveliest melodies and heard on my choice cuts from the set, 'Sowing Wind', the superb 'Reaping Storm', and the closing 'Nuria that once again makes fine use of Micus' voice.

A beguiling set that leaves me wondering again whether Micus' is playing a world music, or is bringing instruments from around the world and customising the playing of them to conform to his own methods. Either way, there is much to enjoy, and ponder on the visionary outlook of this unusual musician.

Reviewed by Nick Lea

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